By KARINA MAY
NO girls allowed! That is the main rule for the newly renovated Noosa Men’s Shed Wood Workshop which was officially opened by Noosa Councillor Joe Jurisevic last Thursday (6 August).
The workshop, a former water lab for Unity Water, came to fruition through a combined effort between local businesses and shed members.
Cr Jurisevic, who cut the ribbon, also helped find the building for the men to use.
“Thank you to Unity Water for seeing what I saw, an old disused building that could be turned into something far more beneficial to the community,” he said.
Noosa Men’s Shed is a place for retired men to come together to share skills, experiences and build friendships.
At the opening, Noosa Men’s Shed president Peter Magarry shared how much the space and organisation means to him.
“I personally find it very rewarding that people want to come to a place and have a good time, good friendships,” he said.
“I’ve got eighty friends I didn’t have a year ago. That’s a pretty good thing to be able to say.
“At many men’s sheds, we talk shoulder to shoulder, not face to face; I think we’re getting to talk. It’s taken a year of being shoulder to shoulder, but you can see things breaking down and men actually engaging with each other.“
Due to the generosity of Unity Water, the Men’s Shed have a secure future ahead as they were given a ten year ’permit to occupy’ for the land and buildings.
This allows the group time to invest in the facilities, such as building the wood workshop.
The workshop cost almost $30,000 to build, with $13,500 being supplied by grants from local organisations including Bendigo Bank, and the group managed the raise the rest of the funds through fund-raising with local businesses helping with supplies and construction being completed by members.
Workshop co-ordinator Ian Broadfoot thanked everyone for their support.
“We are especially grateful for the contribution of skills and materials made available by friendly trades people and local businesses that helped us contain the cost,” he said.
Ian also spoke about the real purpose behind having the workshop.
“It’s not all that important we build great woodwork here, although I expect some will be produced,” he said.
“It’s much more important we build friendships that help others. As woodwork co-ordinator it is my wish we stay safe, make good use of the facilities and in this digital age thrive in the company of all the other analogue men.”
The Men’s Shed association started in 2007 with the purpose of providing a support program to improve men’s health and well-being. There are now 960 sheds nationally and over 150,000 men are involved.
Locally, the Noosa Men’s Shed started in June 2014 with 50 members and has now grown to 85 members.
Along with the wood workshop, they also have computer training facilities, raised vegetable gardens, bee-keeping and the coming metal workshop and arts and crafts facility.
They meet from 9am-12pm on Tuesday and Thursday mornings as well as Wednesday afternoons.
The shed is located on Rotary Way off Wallum Lane, Noosa Heads. For more information please contact Peter Magarry 5455 6189.
